a year marked by grace
It’s the first of January, and I lie awake recounting the last day of 365. Or 366, I suppose, with that extra 29th day in February.
Every night my husband and I pray. We list the things we are thankful for and ask for God’s blessing in what’s to come. We often sit in praise, lifting up our lives and those we hold dear. Sometimes we laugh, sometimes we cry, but this night is different than most.
Because it isn’t just the end of a day, it marks the end of another year. And the prayers of gratitude reach back further than twenty-four hours.
As I lie here my mind searches for moments. You know those big moments, those milestone types of moments. I’ve had a lot of those in the past five years. Graduating university, moving into my first apartment, landing that dream job, travelling across the continent, getting engaged, adopting a dog, buying our first home, our wedding day. These are the moments I search for. But as my mind wanders, I realize that this year wasn’t marked by any of the big moments on this list.
2024 wasn’t a year of huge, milestone moments, and yet, my gratitude toward God overflows from tired eyes. My words of thanks aren’t aimed at what the eyes can see or the calendar can date.
This year was marked by the work He’s done in my heart. This year was marked by God’s unfailing grace. As I look back over the year, I can say with confidence that 2024 may have been the best year yet.
I’ve tried a lot of things on this journey toward wholeness. I once believed that my joy and peace could be found in something tangible. But I’ve grown tired of chasing after the wind (Ecclesiastes 1), and time and time again, I’ve found myself at the feet of Jesus. Surrendered to whatever work He so chooses to do in my life.
I found myself at His feet many times this year. Begging for Him to change me. To give me new eyes. To soften my heart. To align my will with His. To give me supernatural patience. To build my trust. To remove my fear so that I may walk confidently in the truth I believe. And beyond all of these things, to help me fall more and more in love with Him so that I would cling to Him even when I begin to grow weary.
Notice how I say when, not if. Life is hard, but God is good, and I need His goodness each and every day.
Now I think it’s wise to circle back to that word wholeness and explain why I called it a “journey toward”. We are all on this journey, whether we realize it or not, and what’s both unfortunate and inspiring to me is the realization that this journey continues over a lifetime. Until we stand face to face with Jesus, we will never be fully whole.
But I think that’s the point. That’s why I need Him every day. Every year. For the rest of my life. My eyes are set on eternity. And although I’m not made complete here on Earth, my years can and will be marked by the direction I’m heading.
As I reflect back on the year 2024, I am overwhelmed by how He’s changed me. The more I clung to Jesus, the more whole I became.
Do I still have a long way to go? Yes, of course. But all God needs is a surrendered heart to do His best work.
I am so thankful for the messy yet beautiful work that He’s done. This year wasn’t easy, but through the painful pruning I am at peace. I’m one step closer to that “well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23) moment at the end of this life.
I finally know what my word of the year was—surrender. Would I have chosen that word on January 1, 2024? Probably not. But God knew what I needed.
Maybe you’re one of those people who love to choose a word, to set goals or resolutions. May I make a few suggestions?
If you’re struggling to pick a word, wait until the end of the year to choose.
And, if growing closer to Jesus isn’t on that list of resolutions, make room for a new number one.
There are so many things in this world fighting for your attention, but nothing will satisfy that deep longing the way Jesus does. Don’t turn away from the work He wants to do in your heart. If I’ve learned anything on this journey so far, it’s this … God loves you and I far too much to leave us the same.
To a year marked by grace, and to the year ahead.
“I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking him in his temple. … My heart says this about you: “Seek his face.” Lord, I will seek your face.” —Psalm 27: 4, 8
Edited by Allison Wicks